A STROLL ALONG THE BEACH OF LAKE MICHIGAN. 
BY W. J. BEAL. 
Tut south-west extremity of Lake Michigan is surrounded 
by a low, sandy beach, back of which are low land and 
marshes. Let us take a stroll with our NATURALIST friends 
along the lake shore south of Chicago. In place of the rocks 
and sea-weeds, radiates, shells and crustacea of the Atlantic 
coast, here are only fragments of cork, chips, sticks, now 
and then a mutilated specimen of an Unio, or a few small, 
dead gasteropods, or their empty shells. Among the land 
plants we shall find more to interest us. The student from 
Salem (Mass.), or the coast of New Jersey, recognizes the 
Beach Pea (Lathyrus maritimus) which we believe is never 
found far from the salt water, except along our great inland 
lakes. Here also is the Sea-rocket ( Cakile Americana), a 
radish-like plant, and the Shore Spurge ( Euphorbia polygo- 
nifolia), growing in the loose barren sand, just as they do 
near the ocean. Of true marine grasses we find the Sea 
Sand-reed (Calamagrostis arenaria), the graceful Squirrel- 
tail Grass (Hordeum jubatum), and the pest of barefooted 
boys called Bur-grass or Sand Bur (Cenchrus tribuloides), 
and a rush (Juncus Balticus). Our seaside botanist is ac- 
customed to see the Arrow-grass (Triglochin maritimum), 
on every salt marsh. It is likewise common on the marshes 
a little way back of the lake. In the "basin" near the city 
flowers a Pond-weed (Potamogeton pectinatus). Silver-weed 
(Potentilla anserina), is plenty in the sand, and in some 
places last season it sent off runners each way full seven feet 
in length. 
We have never seen the Seaside Crowfoot ( Ranunculus 
cymbalaria) near the lake shore, but it is very common a 
little way back on the low pastures and meadows on richer 
soil. Some of our neighbors tell us that they find the 
Prickly Pear ( Opuntia vulgaris) on the bluffs just north of 
(856) : 
